The American Cancer Society outlined three priorities for care delivery, research, education and policy to equitably improve survivor outcomes and support caregivers.
The full report is published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. To develop the priorities, authors — led by Catherine Alfano, PhD, vice president of survivorship for ACS — reviewed research that identifies and addresses cancer survivor and caregiver needs.
The report stated efforts are needed to advance progress in three priority areas:
1. Implementing regular assessment of survivor and caregiver needs.
2. Facilitating personalized information and referrals from diagnosis for both survivors and caregivers, as well as shifting care services from clinical settings to other settings.
3. Disseminating and supporting new care methods and interventions.
"[Cancer survivors] must cope with new risks and ongoing symptoms, so failing to invest in efforts to address the long-term problems confronting survivors and their caregivers is unethical," Dr. Alfano said. "Our aim with this report is to map out a comprehensive strategy that must be undertaken by multiple stakeholders to meet survivors' and caregiver' unique needs while minimizing the impact of provider shortages and controlling costs to healthcare systems, survivors and families."